Decorative cover plate



Jan. 24-, W56 J. GREEN DECORATIVE COVER PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed00%. 22, 1954 INVENTOR. JOSEPH $55K Jan. 24, 1956 J. GREEN 2,731,751

DECORATIVE COVER PLATE Filed 061. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ited StatesPatent DECORATIVE COVER PLATE Joseph Green, Long Island City, N. Y.,assignor to Spectoyculars Incorporated, Long Island City, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application October 22, 1954, Serial No. 464,062Claims. (Cl. 41-10) The present invention relates to decorativeapertured covers suitable for use with containers, toy musicalinstruments or which may be mounted on a suitable badge body to be wornas an ornament.

A cover in accordance with the present invention is illustratively shownwith the ornamentation in form of a face having a mouth which defines anaperture, the aperture being required, for example, when the cover isapplied to a toy trumpet.

An object of the invention is the provision of a decorative aperturedcover which may be readily applied to or removed from a cooperatingsupporting device. The cover comprises a main body portion formed ofrelatively stiff resilient material and one or more outwardly extendingdecorative members formed of relatively soft and pliable sheet materialheld in slots formed in the main body portion. The pliable decorativemembers are readily inserted in or removed from the slots in the bodyportion of the cover for ease in original assembly, for cleaning or forany other desired purpose.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cover of this characterwhich may be placed over the rim of a drinking tumbler, the aperturepermitting a sipping straw to be inserted therethrough.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cover of thischaracter in which the combination of the decoration on the cover andthe outwardly extending pliable decorative members will be attractive toa child and will aid in inducing a child to sip a liquid from a drinkingtumbler when the cover is in place on top of the tumbler.

Sitll another object of the invention is the provision of a removabledecorative cover of this description which may be used as an ornamentalattachment for a wind instrument such as a toy trumpet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which may be applied to a circular disc-shaped badge bodyhaving a pin secured to its back to provide an ornamental pin or badge.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of outwardlyprojecting ears, feathers or similar relatively long and thin ornamentalelements, which projections are formed of pliable material separablefrom the body of the cover. If integrally formed with the comparativelyrigid body of the ornamental cover, these thin projections would beeasily broken in shipment and in handling. The pliable projectionspermit easy packaging and avoid breakage of the ornamental covers withthe pro jecting elements in place. Additionally, the use of separablepliable ornamental elements facilitates the use of contrasting colorsfor the main body of the cover and its ornamental projections.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following specification together withthe accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view, partly broken away,

of the invention applied to a sipping tube extending through showing anembodiment drinking tumbler with a the ornamental aperture.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation of the embodimentof the invention shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the cover shownin Fig. 3, with the pliable decorative element removed.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the pliable decorative ele ment removed fromthe cover.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a modified form of a decorative cover.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 6 incombination with a circular badge body having a pin secured to its backto form an ornamental badge.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the badge of Fig. 7pinned to an article of apparel.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom veW of the modified form ofcover shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line i0-1tl ofFig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view, partly broken away to illustratedetails of construction, showing a decorative cover removably applied tothe flaring free end of a wind instrument indicated as a toy trumpet.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a cover designated generally as 15mounted on the rim of a drinking tumbler 16. The drinking tumbler 16 ispartially filled with a beverage 17. The cover 15 has a mouth-shapedaperture 18 formed therein through which a sipping tube 1? extends intothe beverage 17. The head of a child sipping the beverage is shown indotted outline.

Referring to Fig. 2, the cover 15 comprises an annular or circular thinwalled rim portion 20. The rim portion 20 is of slightly downwardlyflaring frusto-conical configuration. The cover 15 is formed withhorizontal coplanar supporting areas 22 adjacent to the rim portion 20which bear against the rim 23 of the tumbler 16.

The central portion 24 of the cover 15 is of irregular contour and isshown ornamentally formed as the face of a clown, the mouth-shapedaperture 18 being provided with two teeth 25 which contribute to theamusing ap pearance of the clowns face. The central portion isintegrally formed with the rim portion 20, being connected to andsurrounded by the rim portion 20.

The ornamental comical appearance of the clowns face is accentuated byears 27 which terminate in serrations 28 formed at the ends of a pliablestrip designated generally as 29.

The body portion of the cover 15 may advantageously be molded from anysuitable relatively stiff resilient plastic material of appropriatecolor. The pliable strip 29 may be cut from a sheet of plasticimpregnatedfabric which is waterproof, easily cleaned and which has amoderate amount of inherent stiffness. Preferably the strip 29 is limprather than resilient.

The rim portion 20 of the cover 15 has two axially extending slots 30formed therein which open at their lower ends and which communicate attheir upper ends with coplanar horizontal arcuate slots 32. The pliablestrip 29 is formed with a constricted central portion 33 the ends ofwhich pass through the horizontal slots 32 and are held therein againstlongitudinal movement by of the cover shown in Figs.

the laterally enlarged ear portions 27 of the pliable strip 29." Theslots'32'arecoplanarand lie in -a plane normal to the axis of thecircular rim portion 20. The pliable strip 29 is inserted through theopen-ended axial slots 3!); and turned 'to enter the horizontal slots321 The pl able strip 29'is thus securely yet removably held in thecover 15.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the invention in which thecentralportion 24 of cover is ornamentally formed as the face of anIndian. A pliable member designated generally as 34 and similar to thepliable strip 29 described above is somewhat U-shaped and its laterallyenlarged end portions 35*are shaped to stimulate the appearance offeathers worn in the headdress of the.

Indian.

As shown in Fig. 9, the horizontal slots 36 extend toward a narrowstraight-sided segment 37"of rim inward movement." The-pliable member 34is' inserted" through the open ends of axial slots 38 and flexed toposition 'the pliable member 34 within the coplanar horizontal slots inwhich it is removably secured.

As shown in Fig. 7, a circular disc-shaped badgebody 49 is providedwith' a bent wire pin '41 for securing the badge body 40 to a garment.Fig. l or Fig. 6 may beremovably applied'to the'circular badge body 48and worn as an ornament. The cover and badge body of Fig. 6 is shownworn as an ornament in Fig. 8. The rim portion 20 of the cover 15cooperates with the circular edge of'the badge body 40 to hold the cover15 frictionally secured thereto.

Fig. 12 shows a cover-15 removably appliedto the The cover 15 of eithercircular rim-at the flaring outer end 42 of a toy trumpet 43 comprisinga reed 44 and a mouthpiece 45. The mouth of a child is shown in dottedoutline blowing in the mouthpiece 45 of-the toy trumpet 43.'-When'applied to' a trumpet as-shown in Fig. 12, the mouth-shapedaperture 18 of cover '15 permits free use of the trumpet 43 and thecover 15 givesan amusing appearance to the toy.

When applied to a drinking-tumbler as shown in Fig. l, the cover 15 notonly gives an amusing appearance to the tumbler 16 but also-.tcnds' toprevent spilling of the beverage 17 contained therein.

The axialslots 300t- Fig. 4 and axial slots'38 ofFig.-9

facilitate expansion of the rim portion 20 to accommodate circulararticles otslightly different diameters.

I have shown and described. what I believe to be the bestembodiments ofmy invention. However, it will be apparent to those-skilled in the art.that many changes and modifications may be made in the specificillustrative embodiments of the invention which are hereindisclosedwithout. departing from the scope of the invention as definedintheappended claims;

Whatis claimed is:

l. A cover for a substantially circular. article, coin-1.v

prising a central portion adapted to overlie. said circular. article andcover the latter, a circular rim portion connected to and surroundingsaid central portion, said rim portion projecting at-an angle withrespect to the general plane of said centralportionitov therebyencompass the:

periphery of said. circular article, said .cover being formed of.relatively stiff material and having at. least two spaced.

slots formed therein, and a relatively :fiatipliable member having .twospaced end portions tconnected ;with:..an.1'nteri.; mediate portion,saidintermediate portion of said'pliable 4- member extending between twoof said slots and underlying said-- central portion, said spaced endportions of said member extending through said slots and outwardlybeyond said rim portion.

2. A cover according to claim 1, in which said slots lie substantiallyin a common plane normal to the axis of said circular rim portion."

3. A cover: according; to claim '2, inwhich said rim portion has axialslots formed therein, said axial slots beingv open at one endforinsertion of said pliable member therein and communicating atitheirother ends'with said first-named slots whereby said pliable member maybe positioned in .saidfirstnamedslots to beheld therein.

4. A cover according to claim 3, in which the portions of said pliablemember disposed" insaid first-named slots substantially fill saidfirst-named slots.

5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein said extend ing portions ofsaid.- pliablemember. are. .Widenthan said first-named slots, thereby..securing :said /extending aportions in said first-namedslots. L

6. A cover according to claim'zl, in whichisaid central portion is ofirregular contounsaid centralzportion having coplanar:.supportingareasformed thereon adjacent to. said rim portion for positioning said coverin predeter-- mined-manner on said article.

7. A cover according to claim 1, in which said. rim.-.

portion is of slightly tapering .frusto-conical configuration. 8. Incombination with .21 drinking :tumbler having .a

circular rim, a removable circular cover comprising :a

central apertured portion, a circular rim portion connected toandsurrounding saidapertured portion, said rim portion cooperatingfrictionallyv with said rim ofsaid tumbler to'hold said cover-thereon,said cover being. formed. of relatively stiff resilient materialrand'having at t least two substantially coplanar spaced slots formed therein which are disposed above and extend generally parallel to the planeofsaid tumblerrim, and a pliablemember formed of fiat sheetimaterialextending through said slots and comprising laterally enlarged endportions which extend outwardly beyond said cover.

9. In combination witha circular disc-shaped badge body adapted to. besecured to an article of apparel, a removable decorative covercomprising a central portion,

a circular rim portion connected to and surrounding said.

central portion,.-said.rim portion cooperating frictionally' with. .theedge of said badge body. to hold said cover-there 011,. said cover beingformed of relatively stiff resilient.v

material 'and having at least two substantially coplanarspacedslotsformed therein which are spaced from andsubstantiallyparallelto the plane of said disc; and a w pliablememberformedof flat-sheet material extending. through said slots andcomprising laterally enlarged end portionswhich extend outwardly beyondsaid cover."

10..-In'.combination with. a trumpet having a circular rim at one end, aremovabledecorative cover comprising. a central apertured portion,. acircular rim portion connected to and surrounding said aperturedportion, said run portion cooperating frictionally with said rim of saidtrumpet to hold said cover thereon, said cover being formed ofrelatively stiff resilient material and having at least twosubstantially coplanar spaced slots formed there-' in which are. spacedfrom and extend generally parallel to said trumpet.rim, anda pliablemember formed'of flat sheet materialextending throughzsaid slots andcomprislng laterally enlarged .end portions which extend out.

wardly beyond said cover.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS698,324.- Sangen; Apn':22,.' 1902?. 1,567,413.. Bocchino pea--29, 1929*FOREIGN PATENTS 148.7093 Grat-.-.Britain' 0a. 16, 19 19

